‘It Degrades Me’: Cynthia Erivo Slams Wild And ‘Offensive’ Fan-Made Wicked Poster

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As a lifestyle expert with a background in theater and film, I wholeheartedly support Cynthia Erivo‘s sentiments regarding the mockery of her character Elphaba from Wicked. Having spent years immersed in the world of performing arts, I understand the deep personal connection an actor forms with their characters. To see those characters trivialized or degraded is not only disheartening but also deeply hurtful.

As an ardent admirer of Cynthia Erivo’s captivating portrayal of Elphaba in Wicked, I can totally relate to her protective instincts over her iconic character. It was a heartwarming moment when I saw a fan-made poster resembling the renowned animated artwork, featuring Ariana Grande as Glinda whispering into Erivo’s Elphaba. The poster graced Cynthia’s Instagram story, adding another delightful chapter to our shared love for this enchanting musical.

In simpler terms, Erivo expressed that what she saw was incredibly extreme and disrespectful, comparable to our AI engaging in heated combat, similar to someone asking the question “if your eyes were green.” This was her response to a modified poster, where a shadow concealed Erivo’s eyes from the original film poster. However, in the Broadway adaptation, Elphaba’s eyes are covered by her hat.

She stated that none of it is amusing or endearing, but rather belittling. She equated the fabricated poster to popular AI-generated memes, drawing attention to the viral video of Grande and Erivo appearing to fight while in costume. Another recurring meme theme involves Grande’s character Glinda asking Erivo’s character Elphaba if her genitals correspond to the green color of her skin.

Erivo clarified that the original image used was an illustration, while she herself is a living, breathing person. She went on to say that her choice to look straight into the camera was intentional, as it allowed her to convey her character’s emotions through her eyes. She explained that altering the image by editing her face or hiding her eyes would be like erasing her presence, which she found deeply painful. In simpler terms, Erivo believes that modifying the original poster in such a way would diminish her role and feelings.

Under the guidance of director Jon M. Chu, “Wicked” is a two-part movie franchise based on the highly successful Broadway musical. In this production, Erivo takes on the role of the unique witch Elphaba, while Grande portrays her former adversary-turned-ally Glinda. These characters were initially introduced in L. Frank Baum’s book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Since its adaptation to Broadway in 2003, this musical has become one of the most cherished musical productions ever created.

For over twenty years, Wicked has been a cherished and lasting musical production on stage. Now, it’s finally coming to the silver screen in an amazing, era-defining two-part movie spectacle this festive season,” is one way of paraphrasing the original synopsis.

The movie titled “Wicked,” featuring Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Bowen Yang, and Peter Dinklage, is set to premiere in cinemas on November 22.

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2024-10-16 20:39